Bangert: After 60 years, bugler plays final taps

When Ralph Ward joined, the Post 11 Honor Guard was doing funerals for WWI veterans. This week, after more than half-a-century of military rites for veterans, Ward handed the bugle to the next man.

Ralph Ward has been a member of the American Legion Post 11 Honor Guard since at least 1958. On Saturday the World War II veteran played taps for a final time for a Greater Lafayette veteran’s funeral. He is stepping aside as the unit’s bugler.(Photo: Journal & Courier file photo)

Wednesday morning, as members of the American Legion Post 11 Honor Guard divvied up assignments for another funeral detail, Ralph Ward's name was conspicuously absent from the list.

It was Ward's birthday — his 93rd. And he'd told the guys on the Honor Guard that when he hit that date, after more than half-a-century of saluting during final rites for thousands of Greater Lafayette veterans, he'd step aside as the group's bugler.

Ward was good to his word. He'd blown taps one final time on Saturday, graveside at St. Boniface Cemetery off Schuyler Avenue. So he was at Post 11's hall in Lafayette on the morning of his birthday just to see the men in gold-piped blue pants, white shirts and white gloves load their rifles and colors for their 60th funeral detail of 2015.

As Martin walked toward the rest of the unit and out to the Post 11 bus, Ward said: "This bunch of guys here? They're the greatest. They really, really do a wonderful job on this. … It's been an honor for me to be on with this group of people."

Exactly when Ward joined the Post 11 Honor Guard, he's not sure. A "Last Bugle Call" cake — the one Post 11 had made for him Saturday — was decorated to thank Ward "for over 60 years" on the Honor Guard. Ward said he has proof in Post 11 documents dating to 1958, which would put him at 57 years, at least.

"I know this much, though," Ward said, beginning a story about an enlistment in the U.S. Navy that bookended the start and end of World War II.

He enlisted on April 17, 1941, and was stationed at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle before the U.S. entered WWII. He said that he was set to start his first 72-hour liberty when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor that December.

"I never did forgive them for that," Ward said. "I was supposed to be off."

He spent much of the war as an airplane mechanic stationed at Attu Island, part of the string of islands off Alaska. ("A woman behind every tree, they used to say," Ward said. "But there weren't any trees.")

After the war, he rounded out his six-year enlistment Stateside, before returning home to Lafayette and to a job as a tool and die maker at Ross Gear, now TRW, in 1947. He worked there until he retired 31 years ago.

He said he was working nights at Ross Gear back then, so he had time to make it to funerals during normal business hours in the day. So he joined the Honor Guard, watching the ranks fluctuate in size and focus through the decades. When he started, the funerals were for World War I veterans, mainly.

"Those old guys would tell their World War I stories and sing their World War I songs," Ward said. "For me, it was just a patriotic thing to do, still carrying through all those years."

In 1999, Congress made a law that said any honorably discharged service member must have military funeral honors, if the next of kin request it. The law suggested that American Legions, VFWs and other veterans service groups maintain color guards and firing squads.

It's an assignment the Post 11 Honor Guard takes seriously. Dave Dispennett, commander of the Post 11 Honor Guard, said the group attended 122 funerals in 2014, on top of Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Day and other special occasions.

Exactly how many graveside ceremonies Ward has witnessed and grieving families he's seen comforted by the final respect offered in a volley of 21 shots and a rendition of taps in all his time? He said he isn't sure.

"But all sorts of weather," Ward said.

Ward started carrying the bugle a little over three years ago, taking over when Clarence Minniear, a member of the Honor Guard, died in 2011.

"Everyone thought he did a pretty fine job," Dispennett said. "So we just kept giving him that assignment. He took so much pride in it."

There was a time when Post 11 called on trumpet players from local high schools to play taps during funeral services. Coordinating schedules wasn't easy, though. And it wasn't easy to find someone in the Honor Guard who could guarantee a rendition worthy of final respects. So for a while, when high school talent wasn't available, Ward said Post 11 brought a boom box, set it down beside the bugler and hit play. Ward scrunched up his face at the thought of it.

About 10 years ago, Ward said he saw an American Legion magazine feature on a ceremonial bugle that could automatically play a perfect version of taps at the push of a button. That's what Post 11 uses now.

"You know, every time I push that button in there, there's a lull where nothing happens. I just start to sweat every time," Ward said. "I always test it before we leave here. … If that sucker doesn't go off, what are you going to do? You can't run."

But he said it played every time. And he figured it would again on that Wednesday, his 93rd birthday, the first day in roughly 60 years he was off the Post 11 Honor Guard. (He was right. Dispennett later would say Ward's replacement, Don Baumis, was up to task.)

Is he going to miss it? Ward said he knew he would. But, still, it was time.

"After all, I'm 93 years old. Old age is catching up," Ward said. "And I think some of the fellas think, let somebody else do it. And this is true."

The Post 11 Honor Guard bus pulled out of the lot tucked away from South Ninth Street, off to another funeral.